Academic Calendar - Fisheries and Marine Institute - Memorial ...

TRANSPORT CANADA PROGRAMS
Under the Canada Shipping Act, Transport Canada has the
responsibility for the examination and certification of seafarers
in Canada. Under the same legislation, specific regulations and
related guidelines1, spell out the details which govern the rights
and responsibilities of seafarers who hold either deck or marine
engineering Certificates of Competence (Certificates) issued by
Transport Canada.
Part of the federal responsibility, in addition to enacting and
enforcing the rules and regulations, is to provide the opportunity
for seafarers to attend education and training institutions and
receive the appropriate preparation for such examinations. To
carry out this mandate Transport Canada has designated several
schools in Canada as being approved for these purposes.
The Fisheries and Marine Institute of Memorial University of
Newfoundland is a designated institution.
The Marine Institute carries out its agreements with Transport
Canada in several ways. These include the sponsoring of
cadet programs for deck and engineering students (diplomas
of technology), the provision of recognized pre-sea instruction
(technical certificates), giving instruction in the many courses
that make up the various certificates issued by Transport Canada
and, in some instances, acting as the examiner on behalf of
Transport Canada.
PROGRAM ENTRY
The process for, and regulations governing, application for
admission to Transport Canada Certification Programs falls under
Application for Admission to Non-Degree Programs described in
the section of this Calendar relating to Admission to the Marine
Institute. Please refer to that section for details on how to apply
for admission.
All Transport Canada courses offered by the Marine Institute
require practical experience either at sea (Deck Certificates)
or shop/shipyard/sea time (Engineering Certificates). For
the periods of time required for each certificate the applicant
is referred to Transport Canada document TP2293 (The
Examination and Certification of Seafarers) available at the
nearest Transport Canada office, on the Transport Canada web
site at www.tc.gc.ca/eng/marinesafety/tp-tp2293-menu-2254.htm
or libraries in which government documents are found.
Transport Canada will normally assess practical experience
to determine the appropriate level of certificate a candidate
for certification is qualified to attempt. It is the applicant’s
responsibility to ensure he or she is familiar with Transport
Canada’s eligibility requirements, listed under TP2293, prior to
seeking certification with Transport Canada.
All seafarers must meet certain minimum medical standards
before they will receive any certificate of competency issued by
Transport Canada. The medical certificate is described in the
Marine Personnel Regulations and contains the standards found
in TP 11343 (Medical Examination of Seafarers - Physicians
Guide).
In addition, the Marine Institute requires medical standards be
met before a student can complete any of the STCW Marine
Safety Training courses which form part of the Transport Canada
Certification requirements.
Both of these medicals require forms that must be filled out by
designated physicians. A list of designated physicians and the
medical forms required may be obtained from Transport Canada
or from the Marine Institute.
PROGRAM STRUCTURE
The Marine Institute offers a number of courses through its
School of Maritime Studies to prepare individuals for Transport
Canada Certification examinations as deck officers and marine
engineering officers. These courses are offered throughout the
year and are organized by the various certificates as programs.
The emphasis of these courses is to train personnel who have
the necessary sea-going experience to challenge each level of
certification. Offerings are always subject to sufficient demand
and schedules are prepared each year for the more common and
popular certificate programs. While the Marine Institute may not
address certain certificates in its schedule of courses in any given
period, if there is sufficient industry interest, then the Marine
Institute will offer courses to meet that demand.
Information on courses for which the Marine Institute is
authorized to conduct exams on behalf of Transport Canada,
as well as courses available by distance, is available from the
Registrar’s Office. When a student completes an examination
in a course in a series, they are automatically deemed to have
a credit for the courses in the same series with a number that is
lower in the series.
While students will be admitted only to the Certificate course that
they qualify for according to Transport Canada, they may register
for any course allowed under the regulations outlined in Transport
Canada’s TP2293. Registration for courses associated with a
Certificate at a more senior level will be approved on a courseby-course
basis.
NOTE
The examination and certification of Seafarer’s is available
only to Canadian Citizens and landed immigrants. Only
students who are eligible for Transport Canada certification
are eligible for admission to the Marine Institute for
certification preparation training.
1
The Regulations are the Marine Personnel Regulations. The guidelines to these regulations are contained in Transport Canada
publication TP2293. These regulations and guidelines are available at the nearest Transport Canada office,
on the World Wide Web at www.tc.gc.ca/Marine Safety/tp/menu.htm or the library at the Marine Institute.
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